A lot of people simply assume that dry skin causes wrinkles and believe that if they keep applying moisturizers, this will keep wrinkles at bay – this is far from the truth. According to research, 90 percent of wrinkly skin is caused by the UV (Ultraviolet) rays of the sun and damage from the sun’s rays is the major cause of premature aging in men and women. Do you know what the advantages of wearing sunscreen is?
Even at the lowest level of exposure, the sun’s UV rays breaks down collagen and leads to wrinkles. Thankfully, there is a way to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. Using sunscreen (also called sun block) is a great way to protect your skin from the harmful effects of sun’s ultraviolet rays.
What Exactly Are Sunscreens?
Sunscreens are pharmaceutical products specially designed to protect the skin from harmful UV rays of the sun. Sunscreens contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which are known as “physical blockers” and protect the skin from sunburn and premature aging. A good quality sunscreen contains 6 percent (or higher) titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These products are made with seventeen other active ingredients and these ingredients come into 2 major categories:
- Absorbers – these ingredients create a chemical reaction to effectively absorb the sun’s ultra violet radiation.
- Reflectors – these ingredients are actually physical barriers that block or reflect ultra violet rays away from the skin.
A large number of the sunscreens sold in the market contain a combination of the absorbers and reflectors. These products are available as lotions, creams and moisturizers.
Advantages of Wearing Sunscreen
Lotions with sun screening ingredients are effective and safe for use. When applied on the skin on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the harmful effect of UV rays on the skin. These products also help to shield vital proteins such as elastin, keratin and collagen, which help to keep the skin looking smooth and firm to the touch. Some daily moisturizing products now include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as these well known ingredients help reverse some signs of premature aging. Lotions that contain sun block ingredients can be effective in helping to prevent all types of skin cancers; this includes melanoma, squamous cell skin cancers and their precursors. It also helps prevent other deadly form of skin cancers.
Long Term Effects of Not Using Sunscreens
If you avoid applying lotions with sunscreen on your skin, you are leaving your skin vulnerable and exposed to harmful sun rays. Whether you lay out in the sun or tanning bed, you are simply inviting skin cancer, skin damage, cataracts and immune suppression. The high increase in the number of people diagnosed with sun damage related health problems is basically as a result of poor lifestyle choices and also the cause of environmental carelessness like ozone depletion.
These findings are actually backed by years of scientific research. You can also take proper measures to protect yourself from damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
The following steps are valuable to living a healthy life:
- Avoid unprotected exposure to the sun at any time, especially during the hours of 10am and 4pm – these are the hours of peak UVR.
- Wear clothing that will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. You can wear a long sleeve shirt, sunglasses and/or a 3-inch brim hat.
Apply a generous amount of sun block with SPF 30 or higher to all the areas of your body that will not be protected from the sun. Apply the lotion or cream 15 to 20 minutes prior to sun exposure and also reapply the product every 2 hours while exposed to the sun.
